Not the Nine O'Clock News - Monty Pythons worshipers

ZuzuzuLooker

AI-assisted summary of Not the Nine O'Clock News - Monty Pythons worshipers — original source. Check the original for full context.

Source published: 2009-01-21

Key ideas

The satirical sketch inverts the real-world controversy surrounding Monty Python's 'Life of Brian' by portraying a society where Monty Python is a venerated religion and Christianity is viewed as a blasphemous parody. (0:04)
Film critic Alexander Walker denounces 'The General Synod's Life of Christ,' claiming it mocks the comic Messiah John Cleese and expressing outrage that children as young as 14 can view it. (0:04)
The Bishop who directed the film defends the production by arguing that an immortal comedic legacy cannot be undermined by a tenth-rate film, quoting John Cleese as holy scripture. (1:48)
The debate climaxes over a scene spoofing 'Fawlty Towers,' in which Jesus Christ strikes Spanish waiters in a seaside hotel, viewed by Pythonists as the ultimate sacrilege. (1:48)

Detailed notes

## Background This clip was published on YouTube by ZuzuzuLooker on January 21, 2009. It features a satirical sketch from the British television series Not the Nine O'Clock News commenting on the real-world controversy surrounding Monty Python's 1979 film Life of Brian.

## TL;DR In a television panel debate, a host and film critic Alexander Walker scrutinize a controversial new film titled The General Synod's Life of Christ, directed by a Christian Bishop. Walker furiously condemns the picture as a sacrilegious attack on the Western world's venerated religion of Python worship, arguing the protagonist Jesus Christ is a blatant, blasphemous parody of comic Messiah John Cleese. The Bishop defends his production by claiming the central figure is merely an ordinary man born contemporary to Cleese, insisting that true Python faith cannot be threatened by a tenth-rate movie. The debate culminates in Walker expressing outrage over the film's climax, which satirizes Fawlty Towers by having Christ strike Spanish waiters in a seaside hotel.

## Atmosphere & style The sketch adopts the deadpan, high-minded tone of a serious British current affairs broadcast, playing the complete role reversal with absolute solemnity. Alexander Walker projects stiff, moral outrage and devotional fervor over Python sketches, clashing against the Bishop's mild-mannered, subtly wry defenses. The result is an intensely dry, biting parody where the sacred and the silly trade places, making comedy orthodoxy feel like dogmatic scripture.

## Bulletin - [00:04](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asUyK6JWt9U&t=4s) The satirical sketch inverts the real-world controversy surrounding Monty Python's 'Life of Brian' by portraying a society where Monty Python is a venerated religion and Christianity is viewed as a blasphemous parody. - [00:04](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asUyK6JWt9U&t=4s) Film critic Alexander Walker denounces 'The General Synod's Life of Christ,' claiming it mocks the comic Messiah John Cleese and expressing outrage that children as young as 14 can view it. - [01:48](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asUyK6JWt9U&t=108s) The Bishop who directed the film defends the production by arguing that an immortal comedic legacy cannot be undermined by a tenth-rate film, quoting John Cleese as holy scripture. - [01:48](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asUyK6JWt9U&t=108s) The debate climaxes over a scene spoofing 'Fawlty Towers,' in which Jesus Christ strikes Spanish waiters in a seaside hotel, viewed by Pythonists as the ultimate sacrilege.

## Key takeaways - [00:04](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asUyK6JWt9U&t=4s) The British television sketch frames a public controversy over 'The General Synod's Life of Christ,' mirroring the media backlash to Monty Python's 'Life of Brian'. - [00:04](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asUyK6JWt9U&t=4s) In this inverted world, the Monty Python comedy troupe is worshipped throughout the Western world as genuine religious icons. - [00:04](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asUyK6JWt9U&t=4s) Alexander Walker condemns the film's public release, lamenting that society already has far too little genuine Python without screening such distorted material. - [00:04](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asUyK6JWt9U&t=4s) Walker expresses dismay that British cinema allows a 14-year-old child to view a film that demeans Python worship. - [00:04](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asUyK6JWt9U&t=4s) When asked whether he anticipated the public outrage, the Bishop quippingly responds that he did not expect the Spanish Inquisition. - [00:04](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asUyK6JWt9U&t=4s) The Bishop denies that the film targets Monty Python, though he acknowledges he is not a practicing Pythonist himself. - [00:04](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asUyK6JWt9U&t=4s) Walker argues that the character of Jesus Christ is a blatant parody of John Cleese, pointing out that both share the initials 'J.C.' - [01:48](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asUyK6JWt9U&t=108s) The Bishop maintains that Jesus Christ is merely an ordinary person born in Weston-super-Mare around the same era as Cleese. - [01:48](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asUyK6JWt9U&t=108s) Walker notes that crowds in the film mistake the protagonist for the comic Messiah, trailing him with silly walks and reciting holy lines about the comfy chair. - [01:48](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asUyK6JWt9U&t=108s) Walker demands reverence for the troupe's sacrifices, asking whether viewers have forgotten how Monty Python suffered and died on stage during failed sketches. - [01:48](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asUyK6JWt9U&t=108s) The Bishop quotes John Cleese's scripture, observing that whenever two or three gather in one place, they shall perform the dead parrot sketch. - [01:48](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asUyK6JWt9U&t=108s) The film's climax—striking Spanish waiters in a hotel—is condemned by Walker as an attack on John Cleese's finest half-hour in 'Fawlty Towers'.

## Detailed walkthrough ### [00:04](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asUyK6JWt9U&t=4s) The Controversy Over 'The General Synod's Life of Christ'

The program introduces an excerpt from a controversial and supposedly sacrilegious new British film entitled *The General Synod's Life of Christ*. The presenter explains that while the film ostensibly portrays the rise to greatness and fame of an ordinary carpenter’s son named Jesus Christ, large numbers of viewers have interpreted it as a thinly disguised, blasphemous assault on the revered legacy of Monty Python. Members of the Monty Python comedy troupe are described as figures who are actively worshipped and venerated throughout the Western world, leading outraged Python worshippers to charge the film with setting out to ridicule and parody the comedy icons.

Film critic Alexander Walker expresses deep disgust that such a film is allowed in British cinemas. He notes his dismay that within a society that remains ostensibly devoted to Python worship, a child as young as fourteen could simply buy a ticket to see such work. Walker points out that there is already far too little genuine Python in the world today without parading around this kind of distorted rubbish. When the host turns to the Bishop who directed the production to ask if this backlash was anticipated, the Bishop wryly quips that he certainly did not expect the Spanish Inquisition.

The Bishop defends his film by stressing that he is not a practicing Pythonist himself, though he insists he harbors enormous respect for devoted believers like Walker. He adamantly denies that the movie is about Python at all. Walker cuts in dismissively, arguing that the central figure of Jesus Christ is an unmistakable parody of the comic Messiah, John Cleese, pointing out that even their initials, J.C., are identical.

- The film under debate is *The General Synod's Life of Christ*, produced by the General Synod and directed by the Bishop. - Critics accuse the film of taking aim at Monty Python members who are revered across the Western world. - Film critic Alexander Walker condemns the release, arguing: “I mean, I actually find it deeply offensive that in a country that is still ostensibly a Python-worshipping country that a 14-year-old child can actually get in to see this film.” - When asked if he expected such harsh backlash, the Bishop quips: “Well, I certainly didn't expect the Spanish Inquisition.”

---

[01:48](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asUyK6JWt9U&t=108s) Accusations of Blaspheming the Comic Messiah

The Bishop attempts to clarify the premise of his film, maintaining that the character of Jesus Christ is not John Cleese whatsoever, but simply an everyday man who happened to be born in Weston-super-Mare at roughly the same time as Cleese. Walker rejects this explanation outright, pointing out that crowds in the film continually mistake the protagonist for the comic Messiah, trailing behind him while doing silly walks and chanting lines from "the good book," such as "No, no, not the comfy chair!" Walker reminds the audience of the sacrifices made by the Python team, questioning whether people have forgotten how the comedians suffered for the public and died on stage repeatedly during failed sketches.

In response, the Bishop argues that if Monty Python is as immortal as Pythonists claim, a tenth-rate film should hardly pose a threat to their status, solemnly invoking the words of John Cleese: whenever two or three are gathered together in one place, they shall perform the dead parrot sketch. Walker then raises the movie's controversial climax set in a Torquay hotel, where hundreds of Spanish waiters are repeatedly clipped round the ear by Jesus Christ. Walker identifies this scene as the ultimate blasphemy, explicitly mocking the comic Messiah’s greatest half-hour in *Fawlty Towers*, while the Bishop fruitlessly protests that the scene is set in Torbay rather than Torquay before the host abruptly wraps up the broadcast.

- The Bishop insists his protagonist is merely an ordinary person born in Weston-super-Mare contemporary to John Cleese. - Walker rejects the Bishop's defense of the plot, arguing: “Whatever you say, this film is a highly distasteful one.” - Walker appeals to the suffering of the comedy troupe, asking: “I mean, have people forgotten how Monty Python suffered for us?” - The Bishop defends Python's resilience by quoting scripture: “I mean, in the words of John Cleese, whenever two or three are gathered together in one place, then they shall perform the parrot sketch.” - The climax of the film parodies *Fawlty Towers* by having the Jesus character strike hundreds of Spanish waiters in a seaside hotel.

## Mentioned Alexander Walker, Fawlty Towers, Jesus Christ, John Cleese, Life of Brian, Monty Python, Not the Nine O'Clock News, The General Synod, The General Synod's Life of Christ, Torquay, Weston-super-Mare

## Video description A sketch from the british series "Not the nine o'clock news" commenting on the controversy created by the Monty Python's film - Life of Brian.

[Source](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asUyK6JWt9U)

中文简报

《非九点新闻》——巨蟒剧团崇拜者在一场电视专题讨论中，主持人和影评人Alexander Walker对一部由基督教主教执导、名为《总宗教会议之基督一生》的争议性新片进行了审视。Walker愤怒地谴责这部影片是对西方世界受人尊崇的巨蟒崇拜宗教的亵渎性攻击，认为主角耶稣基督是对喜剧弥赛亚John Cleese明目张胆且亵渎神明的拙劣模仿。该主教则为自己的作品辩解，坚称核心人物只是一位与Cleese同时代的普通人，并坚信真正的巨蟒信仰绝不会受到一部三流烂片的威胁。辩论在Walker对电影高潮表达愤怒时达到顶点，该片段通过让基督在海滨酒店殴打西班牙侍应生来讽刺《非常大酒店》。这段讽刺小品颠覆了围绕巨蟒剧团《布莱恩的一生》的现实争议，描绘了一个巨蟒剧团被尊为宗教、而基督教被视为亵渎性模仿的社会。 (0:04) 影评人Alexander Walker谴责《总宗教会议之基督一生》，称其嘲弄了喜剧弥赛亚John Cleese，并对年仅14岁的孩子都能观看该片表示愤怒。 (0:04) 执导该片的主教为作品辩护，认为不朽的喜剧遗产绝不可能被一部三流电影所动摇，并引用John Cleese的言论作为神圣经文。 (1:48) 辩论在针对恶搞《非常大酒店》的一幕戏上达到高潮，片中耶稣基督在海滨酒店殴打西班牙侍应生，被巨蟒信徒视为极致的亵渎。 (1:48)

Original transcript

[0:04] Well, that was an excerpt from the [0:06] controversial and some would say [0:07] sacrilegious new British picture, The [0:09] General Synod's Life of Christ. [0:12] The film deals with the rise to fame and [0:15] greatness of a humble carpenter's son [0:16] named Jesus Christ. But many people have [0:19] seen in the film a thinly disguised and [0:22] blasphemous attack on the life of Monty [0:25] Python. [0:27] Python worshipers claim the film sets [0:29] out to ridicule by parody the actual [0:32] members of Monty Python. [0:35] Men who even today are worshipped and [0:37] revered throughout the Western world. [0:40] Now, Alexander Walker, what did you [0:41] think of the picture? [0:42] Well, I was I was appalled. [0:44] I mean, I actually find it deeply [0:46] offensive that in a country that is [0:48] still ostensibly a Python-worshipping [0:50] country [0:51] that a 14-year-old child can actually [0:53] get into see this film. I mean, there is [0:55] there is little enough proper Python [0:57] around these days without parading this [0:59] distorted garbage about. [1:01] Bishop You directed the film. Uh did you [1:02] expect this kind of reaction? [1:05] Well [1:06] Well, I certainly didn't expect the [1:08] Spanish Inquisition. [1:13] Yes. [1:14] Yes, I did. Yes, I did direct the film [1:17] and I feel as though I must emphasize at [1:19] this stage that it is not about Python. [1:21] Oh, come on. [1:22] I'm not a Pythonist. [1:24] I'm not a Pythonist myself, but [1:25] obviously I have a tremendous amount of [1:27] respect for people like Alexander who [1:29] are [1:29] Oh, come on. [1:30] May I come now, Bishop? I mean, the [1:31] leading figure in this film What is it [1:33] Jesus Christ? Christ. I mean, he's quite [1:35] clearly [1:37] a lampoon of the comic Messiah himself, [1:40] our Lord John Cleese. [1:42] Well, come on. I mean, even the [1:43] initials, J.C., are exactly the same. [1:48] I think I must explain. [1:50] I feel it I I must explain to you the [1:52] Christ figure is not Cleese. [1:54] Oh, come on. [1:54] No, he's just an ordinary man who [1:56] happens to have been born in [1:58] Weston-super-Mare at the same time as [2:01] Mr. Cleese. [2:01] Jonathan, you know as well as I do that [2:04] He is mistaken for the comic messiah [2:06] himself by vast crowds of people who [2:08] follow him about doing silly walks. [2:11] You're under arrest for your own [2:12] Shouting no, no, not the comfy chair and [2:15] other slogans from the good book. [2:17] No, I'm sorry. [2:19] I'm sorry, John. I'm sorry, Jonathan. [2:20] Whatever you say, this film is a highly [2:22] distasteful one. I mean, have people [2:24] forgotten how Monty Python suffered for [2:26] us? [2:26] I know. [2:27] How often the sketches failed? [2:29] I mean, these men died for us, [2:32] frequently. [2:33] I mean, if Python is immortal as [2:35] Pythonists believe, then I'm I can't [2:38] believe that a mere film at tenth rate [2:40] could put them off. I mean, in the words [2:42] in the words of John Cleese, whenever [2:43] two or three are gathered together in [2:45] one place, then they shall perform the [2:47] parrot sketch. [2:48] It is an [2:50] It is an ex-parrot. It has ceased to be. [2:55] Well, Alexander Walker, the final scene [2:57] of the picture has attracted the most [2:58] attention. [2:59] Right. Well, I mean, this I mean, now [3:00] now here, I think we have the ultimate [3:02] blasphemy. I mean, it is it is set in a [3:04] hotel in Torquay [3:06] where literally hundreds of Spanish [3:08] waiters are being clipped about the ear [3:10] by this Jesus Christ bloke. [3:12] It is obviously a lampoon of the comic [3:15] messiah's greatest half hour. [3:16] It's not at all. The point it's Torbay. [3:18] Thank you both very much. [3:20] Bishop Alexander Walker, thank you very [3:22] much indeed. [3:23] Thank you.